The Jarzynski identity and the AdS/CFT duality

We point out a remarkable analogy between the Jarzynski identity from non-equilibrium statistical physics and the AdS/CFT duality. We apply the logic that leads to the Jarzynski identity to renormalization group (RG) flows of quantum field theories and then argue for the natural connection with the AdS/CFT duality formula. This application can be in principle checked in Monte Carlo simulations of RC flows. Given the existing generalizations of the Jarzynski identity in non-equilibrium statistical physics, and the analogy between the Jarzynski identity and the AdS/CFT duality, we are led to suggest natural but novel generalizations of the AdS/CFT dictionary. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.